Hi all,

I have posted a few times about my upcoming trip to the US. I am staying with family in California and am planning a few side trips too. I am wondering if it is worthwhile going to visit Lake Tahoe while I am with my cousin in SF or should I save my dollars and spend them in Santa Fe - which is somewhere that I am dying to visit!

Thanks for all your advice,

Laura

My vote would be save it for Santa Fe. SF is beautiful and is a different experience than Tahoe. There are so many great places to eat there and the landscape is memorable. Lake Tahoe is beautiful, but casinos are the main draw (there goes that $$$).

I live about an hour from Tahoe. If you'd like more info on a place I visit very often just let me know a few things first. When would you be visiting? Are you thinking of going there for the outdoors or because it has casinos? I never visit Tahoe for the casinos but I can still provide info about them.

Wow, I have never considered the casinos the main draw of Tahoe. I was there for Mother's Day on Sunday it was as beautiful as a summer day. Later had dinner at a lakeside restuarant and never got near a casino.

Suzie:

My husband and I are planning on going to Lake Tahoe the beginning of February next year for skiing. We are thinking about 4 nights at the south end (ski at Heavenly) and 4 nights at the north end (ski at Squaw Valley). On the south end, we are leaning toward Tahoe Seasons ... want someplace nice as close to the lifts as possible (prefer within walking distance) ... this seems to be our best choice. I recall hearing about a small, chalet type inn in town, but I can't recall the name (and don't know if it was within walking distance to the lifts). I also heard something about the Embassy Suites being close to the gondola? For the north end we are thinking about the Resort at Squaw Creek (if I remember the name correctly). Looked into the Squaw Valley Lodge, but they did not have a restaurant on site ... this is a necessity for us for breakfasts before skiing (I don't want to cook). I think both places on the north end have access to lifts to Squaw Valley. Can you comment on these accomodation selections or offer any other recommendations? How is the skiing in February? Thanks.

Cheryl We stayed at the Four Seasons last fall. It's right across the street from the tram at Heavenly. Right across the street. Only the parking lot is closer. The rooms are all suites if I remember correctly. They had a huge jacuzzi tub in it right in the middle with soji type doors for privacy. Also had a small eating area with table including microwave. There is a dining room in the hotel and valet parking. I liked them for location, size and amenities. I've also stayed in the Emabassy Suites, not the timeshare resort by the marina. I like the Suites by stateline because you're still in CA with all the no smoking rules. This did not seem close to the lifts but I was not there to ski so I would not have noticed that. I do like this Emabassy Suites and have stayed there several times. We always go to Tahoe for our anniversary in addition to our family vacation on the west shore in the summer. Switched to the Four Seasons just for a change of pace, not for any bad feelings about Embassy. Also stayed in the Squaw Vally Inn? Also known as Plumpjacks or something. Very interesting and enjoyable. The noise from the lounge/restaurant bothered us so they moved us to the 3rd floor suite! My goodness it was incredible. It's a small place but right next to the Squaw valley Tram/Gondola that goes to High Camp. Haven't stayed at Squaw Valley Resort but believe me it is beautiful. Large hotel right next to ski lifts. It's on the opposite end of the vally from the main tram. Expensive from what I understand. Plumpjacks in the Squaw Valley Inn was delicious for dinner. Awesome bruchetta and fish. February is probably one of the most reliable months for skiing. Squaw and Heavenly are big resorts and offer a wide range of runs. Even in bad snow years you can count on both to have some runs going. If you need dining advice, especially for romance, I've got some recommendations for you.

Suzie:

Thanks so much for the reply ... very helpful! You mentioned "Four Seasons" -- Is this the same as Tahoe Seasons? I would definitely be interested in any restaurant recommendations, both north and south ends.

Sorry, You're right it is Tahoe Seasons. Was the cahlet you were thinking of Chritianas? It's close to the Tahoe Seasons. There's also a Bear something. Haven't been to either. By far Tahoe Seasons is closer to Heavenly.

Restaurants-Evans (530) 542-1990 so awasome words can not describe. Small restaurant past the Y on your way to Camp Richardson. It was once someone's cottage. Reservations well in advance are a must. The have a website. Also Cafe Fiore- (530) 541-2908 again incredible meal. Very tiny maybe 6 or 8 tables. Reservations a must. Also I believe they have a website. Nepheles has great reviews. Had reservations there but cancelled them as we could not bear to miss going to Evans. Getting around the Lake in February is not easy so I won't torture you with restaurants you will miss. By the way how will you navigate from south to north? Isn't it difficult to use the west side through Emerald bay during winter months? Going on Nevada side?

This is for Cheryl. My husband has just informed me that there is a new ski lift near the Embassy Suites. We both agreed that if they are equal distance to a ski lift, we would definitly prefer the Embassy Suites over Tahoe Seasons. Again this is NOT the timeshare that is located by the marina. Hope this helps.

Spent a week in Tahoe this past Feb. & loved it! We stayed 2 nights at Caesar's (nice but not great) and 5 nts in a condo at N. Star (very cool). It's not Colorado but than again that's not all bad.

We skiied at Tahoe a few months ago for the first time and loved it. We rented a condo at Northstar ([email protected] if you're interested). It was perfect for us--it had a shuttle at the end of our driveway that dropped you off at the Gondola. There are also condos at the base of the gondola. the resort has a couple of restaurants as well. Truckee was a nice town with a good selection of restaurants. We went skiing one day at Squaw. It's very large with lots of ski terrain, but we preferred Northstar. Also liked the north side of the lake much better.

Suzie:

Yes - the name of the inn is Christiana ... how would staying here compare to Tahoe Seasons or Embassy Suites? How far from the lifts? I will look into Embassy Suites a bit more because I did also hear that the lift they are near is a new gondola. Our plan would be to fly into Reno and rent a 4WD (which I know should be equipped with chains available that time of year). We would then drive to the south end, stay 4 nights and then drive to the north end during the day(via the east side routes of the lake), as I hear that driving at night should be avoided because of the weather.

Anyone, can you commment-
How will the skiing at Lake Tahoe compare to skiing in Colorado? This is our second ski trip out west ... we are from the east. We skied in Colorado last year which was great. I hear the Lake Tahoe snow is a bit "wetter" than Colorado snow ... sounds more similar to the snow we may get out east hopefully without the hard packed, icy conditions that we get often out here).

Cheryl, Christianas is near Tahoe Seasons. Because of a large berm between that hotel and the parking lot it isn't as convenient as Tahoe Seasons, though it is still close, if I'm remembering correctly. I haven't stayed there only seen the outside. It's like a big chalet. Don't know what it looks like inside. You might like the Embassy because there is more to do down there at night. It is just on the CA side of the state line and right next door to the casinos. If you like that sort of thing. Tahoe Seasons and Christianas are both aways from any action after the sun goes down. Since you mentioned that eating was important I wanted to pass on that my husband wasn't crazy about the small dining room at the Tahoe seasons.

Suzie and others:

Thank you so much for your replies and information .... it makes planning a vacation easier and more fun. I think we will probably be going with Embassy Suites (which is also rated highly in a skiing travel book I have.)

Cheryl:

The snow in Tahoe is heavier and wetter than the snow in Colorado. I've never skied back East but I think it's different snow than there. The snow at Whistler, Canada, is similar to Tahoe if you've ever skied there. Basically, as compared to Colorado, you'll have to work harder to turn, don't try to blast through what appears to be powder 'cause you'll get stuck, and the snow won't seem as "slippery".

Laura -- Definitely save your money for Santa Fe! Tahoe is pretty, but Santa Fe has a wild desert beauty that's probably unlike anything you've ever seen before. The most gorgeous sunset I ever saw was in Santa Fe.